Results 45,181-45,200 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (11 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: Aung San Suu Kyi remains under house arrest following the decision of the military junta in Burma on 27 May to extend her detention for a further year. At that time I condemned the decision of the Burmese authorities and called on them to rescind the order and to release her immediately. I said that her release would be a humanitarian gesture to a woman who has spent more than 12 of the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (11 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: I am fully committed to achieving the goals set out in the Action Plan for Better Regulation and believe that improvements in regulation can have a positive impact on the quality of engagement between the public and Government. Most of the legislation brought forward by my Department does not impact significantly on the regulatory environment. Regulatory Impact Assessments are, however,...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (11 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: The worsening situation in Zimbabwe is a cause of grave concern. For several years, the people of Zimbabwe have been the victims of state violence, economic chaos and the collapse of basic social services such as health and education. Most recently, due to the mismanagement of water and sewerage facilities, a major cholera epidemic has developed. With almost 14,000 cases of cholera reported...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (11 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes — Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (International Cooperation). The following tables set out the names of consultants used by the Department in 2007 and 2008 (to date) for the preparation of reports and the costs arising in each case. It should be noted that work is ongoing in relation to some of the reports listed for 2008...

Written Answers — Departmental Property: Departmental Property (10 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: Two NGOs who receive funding from Irish Aid, Goal and the Galway One World Centre, have offices in Galway City. The Department itself does not rent or lease any office accommodation in Galway City.

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (10 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: I am delighted to be able to inform the Deputy that an Irish delegation, led by Ambassador Justin Harman and comprising officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, travelled to Minsk on Monday and successfully concluded a bilateral Agreement with Belarus on the conditions of rest and recuperation of children from the Republic...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (9 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, the United States Deputy Secretary of State, John Negroponte, and I signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a new Working Holiday Programme between our two countries in Washington on 24 September. Since the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, my Department, in consultation with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (9 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Institute for International and European Affairs (IIEA) is an independent policy research think-tank and forum. The Institute's mandate is to identity and evaluate the strategic policy options for Ireland arising from its membership of the European Union. The Department of Foreign Affairs pays an annual fee, currently set at €6,000, in respect of its corporate membership of the IIEA....

Written Answers — Departmental Travel: Departmental Travel (9 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: My Department, and the bodies for which it is responsible, are fully compliant with the Department of Finance guidelines on foreign travel. The Department operates its own internal travel guidelines and practises, in compliance with those issued by the Department of Finance. These guidelines ensure transparent and cost effective travel practises, both in Headquarters and throughout our...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (9 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Government remain seriously concerned about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, which has effectively been isolated since the Hamas takeover in June 2007, even during a ceasefire between Israeli forces and Hamas which was broadly respected from 19 June 2008 until 4 November 2008. The Government have consistently called for an end to the isolation of the people of Gaza, in particular...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (9 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: While visa policy is a matter for the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I understand that all visitors to Ireland who require visas must hold individual visas. However, special arrangements have been put in place by the visa office in Moscow on the issuing of visas for Belarusian children who travel to Ireland each year. I am pleased to say that these arrangements are working...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (9 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: The requested details for my Department are set out in tabular form below: Private Office Constituency Office Minister of State for European Affairs, Mr Dick Roche, T.D.* 6.6 (3.6 civil servants, 4.5 (4.5 civil servants) Minister of State for Overseas Development, Mr Peter Power, T.D. 6 (5 civil servants, 5 (3 civil servants, *The 6.6 staff in the Private Office of Minister of...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (9 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: Nationals of Moldova who wish to apply for a visa to travel to Ireland should lodge their applications at our Embassy in Bratislava. Embassy of Ireland Carlton Savoy Building Mostova 2 811 02 Bratislava 1 Tel: +421-2-5930-9611 Fax: +421-2-5443-0690 Website : www.embassyofireland.sk If a visa applicant wishes to stay for six months, they should apply for a 'D' type visa. A 'C' visa only covers...

Report of Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the EU: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: Fine Gael did not do so; neither did the Government. There are still doubts. We are trying to reflect the will of the people. It is clear from the research that issues of neutrality and defence, with workers' rights, are high on people's list of priorities. We must listen to the people. We must create solutions with our European colleagues that reflect the will of the people, as...

Report of Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the EU: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: I have made the comment that we are a member of the eurozone. I have also commented on the role of the ECB. We have made other points about the role of the European Union and Irish troops in Chad. We have been clearly pointing out the positives of our membership of the European Union and working in a constructive way, both internally and externally with our colleagues in the European...

Report of Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the EU: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the report of the Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the European Union. It is a very important debate at a critical moment of Ireland's engagement with the European Union. I am somewhat disappointed with some of the contributions so far. I was particularly facilitative in helping to establish the...

Report of Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the EU: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: A plenary debate in the House was always to be part of the process and for one party to suggest it egged others into having it does a disservice to the issue. The issue is too big for that; we can all nitpick.

Report of Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the EU: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: If the view is to try to chart a way forward for the European Union, we should work towards a unified approach instead of just turning up for debates and finding reasons for having a go at the Government or other parties. That is all I will say.

Report of Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the EU: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: I have been reasonable all along in trying to engage with other political parties. We have been criticised for not engaging. The whole purpose of the Oireachtas sub-committee was for the political parties in the House to engage. Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, the Labour Party, the Green Party, Sinn Féin and the Independents had representatives. I take it that they were not acting unilaterally...

Report of Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the EU: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: I do and will respond at that stage. The Government attaches great importance to this crucial report, the findings of which dovetail so well with our ongoing work at European level. I am thinking, in particular, of the issues it highlights as being of most concern to the people: taxation, socio-ethical issues, foreign and defence policy, and Ireland's influence in the European Union. It...